82 TREATISE ON FLY-FISHING. 



remains close by her, on the side on which the 

 water is deepest. When the female is in the act 

 of emitting her ova, she turns upon her side, with 

 her face to the male, who never moves. The 

 female runs her snout into the gravel and forces 

 herself under it as much as she possibly can, 

 when an attentive observer may see the red spawn 

 coming from her. The male, in his turn, lets his 

 milt go over the spawn, and this process goes on 

 for some days, more or less, according to the size 

 of the fish, and consequent quantity of the eggs. 



If a strange male interferes, the original one 

 chases him with great fury, and in their combats, 

 frequently inflict great injury upon each other. 

 When the female has spawned, she sets off and 

 leaves the place ; the male remains, waiting for 

 another female, and if none comes in twenty-four 

 hours, he goes away in search of another spawning 

 place. 



When the spawning is finished, the fish become 

 very lank and weak, and fall into deep easy 



